Couch or bed.



- J. W. s. & W. P. JONES.

001103 0R BED;

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

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J. W. S. & W. P. JONES.

COUCH 0R BED.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18 Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

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JOHN W. S. JONES AND WILSON P. JONES, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

COUCH OR BED.

eecaso.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN W. S. J ONES and l/ViLsoN P. J ONES, citizensof the United States, both residing at Birmingham, in the county ofJefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Couches or Beds, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to folding beds or couches and has for its objectto provide a comparatively simple and thoroughly eflicient device ofthis character the construction of which is such as to permit the sameto be compactly folded for transportation or storage.

A further object is to provide a folding bed or couch having curved siderails connected through the medium of pivoted links with the head andfoot sections of the bed thus to provide a clearance between the springsand the side rails and also to permit the head and foot sections to bemoved to folded position parallel with the side rails.

A further object is to form the head and foot sections of the bed orcouch with pivotally mounted auxiliary sections or feet adapted toengage and support the side sections when the latter are swung upwardlyto elevated position. 1

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve thisclass of devices, so as to increase their utility, durability, andefliciency, as well as to reduce the cost of construction.

Further objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds,it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims,

For a full understanding of the invention and also to acquire aknowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting theresult, reference is to be had to the following description, andaccompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combined couch or bed constructedin accordance with our invention; the pivoted side sections being shownin horizontal alinement with the intermediate section to produce a bed;Fig. 2 is an end elevation, the pivoted side sections being shown indotted lines in elevated position, Fig. 3 is a side elevation showingthe bed or couch in folded position; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalview; Fig. 5

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 18, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

Serial No. 503,001.

is a perspective view of a portion of the bed showing the constructionof the curved side rail and the links for connecting the side rail withthe adjacent head sections; Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view showingthe manner of locking the pivoted side sections in engagement with theauxiliary head and foot sections; Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of thecastings for the auxiliary head and foot sections of the bed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingsby the same reference characters.

The folding bed or couch forming the subj ect matter of the presentinvention includes a relatively stationary intermediate section or bodyportion 5, having side sections 6 and 7 pivotally connected therewith,and movable laterally and downwardly against the intermediate sectionwhen the device is used as a couch, and adapted to be swung upwardlyinto horizontal alinement with the intermediate section when the couchis used as a bed. The intermediate section 5 comprises spaced transverserails 8, preferably in the form of angle bars, as shown, and connectedby longitudinal side rails, also preferably in the form of angle bars,the opposite ends of the side sections 6 and 7 being pirotally connectedto the end rails 8, as indicated at 10.

The bottom 11 covers both the intermediate section and the side sectionsof the couch and is preferably formed of pivotally united links, theterminal links of which are con nected to the end rails 8 and thecorresponding end rails of the side sections by means of coiled springs12. The opposite ends of the side rails 9 are bent or curved upwardly at18 thereby to provide a clearance between the side rails and the springsand also to permit the head and foot sections 1d and 15 to be moved tofolded position parallel with the side rails, as best shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. The opposite legs of the head section 14 are pivotallyconnected with the intermediate section 5 of the bed by means of links16 and 17, one of the links on each side of the bedbeing shorter thanthe other, and having one end thereof pivotally mounted at 18 on theadjacent leg of said head section and its other end pivotally mounted at19 on the curved terminal of the adjacent side rail. The pivoted end 20of each long link on each side of the bed is disposed in advance of thepivot pin 19 of the adjacent short link 16, while the pivot pin 21 ofsaid long link pierces the adjacent leg of the head section at a pointabove the caster. Similar links form a pivotal connection between theopposite legs of the foot section 15 and the curved terminals of theside rails as shown. Thus it will be seen that when the bed is in theposition shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing the braces 16 and 17 at each endthereon will support the adjacent head and foot sections in verticalposition and prevent accidental collapsing of the bed when the latter isoccuied. P Pivotally connected with the head and foot sections 14: and15 are auxiliary head and foot sections 23 which latter are preferablyof inverted U-shape and adapted to support the side sections 6 and 7when said side sections are moved to elevated position in alinement withthe intermediate bed section.

Rigidly secured to the short leg 24 of each auxiliary section 23 arespaced brackets or castings 25 having vertically alined sockets 26formed therein for the reception of the legs of the adjacent main heador foot section, thus to permit the auxiliary sections 23 to be swunglaterally in alinement with the sections 14 and 15 when the couch isconverted into a bed and to be swung laterally and inwardly against thesections 14 and 15 when the device is changed from a bed to a couch. Thebrackets or castings 25 are rigidly secured to the sections 23 but arefree to swing laterally on the head and foot sections 14: and 15, therebeing segmental slots 27 formed in the castings at the sockets 26 andadapted to receive suit-able pins 28 secured to the head and footsections for the purpose of limiting the swinging movement of theauxiliary sections 23. The outer or long leg of each section 23 isprovided with a laterally extending pin 29 having an enlarged head 30,the shanks of the pins 29 being adapted to enter suitable recesses 31formed in the pivoted side sections 6 and 7 when the latter are inelevated position, thus to brace the side sections 6 and 7 and preventaccidental folding of the same when the bed is occupied.

In order to fold the bed or couch for transportation or shipment theside sections 6 and 7 are disengaged from the pins 29 and swunglaterally and downwardly on the intermediate bed section 5 after whichthe auxiliary sections 23 are swung laterally and inwardly against theadjacent head and foot sections 14: and 15 and the latter folded beneaththe intermediate section 5, thereby causing the head and foot sectionstogether with the auxiliary sections 23 to rest on the floor or othersupport in a position parallel with the side rails 9 as best shown inFig. 3 of the drawings, so that the bed will take up very little spaceand thus permit several of such beds to be arranged one above the otherin superposed relation during transportation or shipment. Y

When it is desired to convert the couch into a bed the side sections 23are swung laterally to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, andthe side sections 6 and 7 swung downwardly until the recesses 31 engagethe pins 29 and in which position the side sections 6 and 7 will besecurely retained in horizontal alinement with the intermediate bedsection 5.

It is obvious that by disengaging the side rails 6 and 7 from the pins29 and swinging the auxiliary section 23 laterally to the position shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings, the device may be used as an ordinary couch.

By curving the opposite ends of the side rails upwardly, a clearancebetween the side rails of the springs 11 is provided when the bed orcouch is in both folded and operative positions, this construction ofside rail also obviating the necessity of building up the usual straightside rails to provide a clearance, as is at present the case in thisclass of devices. 7

It will here be noted that the bed or couch may be folded without thenecessity of first removing screws, bolts, or similar fastening devices,and may be readily set up for use by merely swinging the head and footsections outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The cost of constructing a bed provided with curved side rails is notonly materially less than the cost of making a bed provided withstraight side rails, but by reason of the curved or deflected ends ofthe rails the bed is reinforced and strengthened and a proper clearanceprovided between the upper rails and the springs.

While the curved side rails and pivoted head and foot sections are shownin connection with a couch, it will of course be understood that thesame maybe used with equally good results on cots, davenports orwherever a device of this construction is found desirable or applicable.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Afolding couch including a body portion, having spaced side rails, theopposite ends of which are curved upwardly, head and foot sectionssupporting the body portion, side sections pivotally connected with saidbody portion, links forming a pivotal connection between the head andfoot sections and the curved terminals of the side rails, auxiliarysections pivotally moimted on the head and foot sections and providedwith means for supporting the side sections in horizontal position, saidhead and foot sections together with the auxiliary sections beingfoldable laterally to a position beand foot sections and adapted toengage the pivoted side sections for supporting the lat ter inhorizontal alinement with the body portion, said auxiliary sectionsbeing movable to a position within the lines of the head and footsections and adapted to be folded together with said head and footsections beneath the body portion.

3. A folding couch including a relatively stationary intermediatesection, head and foot sections supporting the intermediate section,links forming a pivotal connection between the head and foot sectionsand said intermediate section, side sections pivotally connected withthe intermediate section and having recesses formed therein, andauxiliary sections pivotally connected with the head and foot sectionsand provided with pins adapted to enter the recesses in the sidesections for supporting the latter in horizontal alinement with theintermediate section, said auxiliary sections being foldablesimultaneously with the head and foot sections to a position beneath thebody portion.

l. A folding couch including a relatively stationary intermediatesection, side sections pivotally connected therewith, and havingrecesses formed in their opposite ends, head and foot sectionssupporting the intermediate section, links forming a pivotal con nectionbetween the head and foot sections and said intermediate section,auxiliary sections pivotally mounted on the head and foot sections, andmovable laterally to extended position, and pins carried by theauxiliary sections and adapted to enter the recesses in the sidesections for supporting the latter in a horizontal plane, said auxiliarysections being movable to a position within the lines of the head andfoot sections.

5. A folding couch including a body portion having end rails spacedapart by side rails having their opposite ends curved upwardly andrigidly connected to the adjacent end rails, side sections pivotallyconnected with the body portion, head and foot sections forming asupport for the body portion, oppositely inclined links of differentlengths forming pivotal connections between the curved ends of the siderails and the adjacent head and foot sections of the bed, and auxiliarysections pivotally connected with the head and foot sections, saidauxiliary sections being movable to a position within the lines of thehead and foot sections and foldable together with the latter beneathsaid body portion.

6. A folding couch including a body portion having movable sidesections, head and foot sections supporting the body portion, auxiliarysections for supporting the side sections in horizontal alinement withthe body portion, brackets loosely mounted on the head and foot sectionsand rigidly secured to the auxiliary sections, said auxiliary sectionsbeing foldable to a position within the lines of the head and footsections.

7. A folding couch including a body portion having movable sidesections, head and foot sections supporting the body portion andprovided with laterally extending stop pins, auxiliary sections havingmeans for engagement with the side sections for supporting said sectionsin horizontal alinement with the body portion, and brackets rigidlysecured to the auxiliary sections and provided with sockets looselyfitting the head and foot sections and provided with segmental slotsadapted to receive the stop pins, said auxiliary sections being movableto a position within the lines of the head and foot sections.

In testimony whereof we affix our signal tures in presence of twowitnesses.

FANNY HENRY.

